Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Sporting Portugal
Match Time & Date:
13/12/2018
03:00 PM
Prediction: 0-0
Vorskla Poltava
Estadio Jose Alvalade will host Thursday’s football game between Sporting CP and Vorskla. The Lions have already clinched their place in the Europa League last 32, with Vorskla collecting only 3 points from possible 15 in the process. Sporting aim to stay in the race for the domestic title and we are positive that coach Marcel Keizer is going to mix the squad against Vorskla. The Ukrainians have been struggling in the Europa League this term, but seeing that the hosts head into their last group game with the lack of motivation, we predict that the two teams are going to share the spoils in the Portuguese capital. The Lions managed to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four home games in the Europa League, therefore, we believe that the two sides are going to play out a goalless draw in Lisbon.
Highlighted Player (Nani):
Nani is a product of Sporting CP’s famous youth academy. The pacey winger played 58 games for the capital club in Primeira Liga, scoring nine goals and in 2007 he joined Premier League side Manchester United. He signed a five-year deal with the Old Trafford outfit for a fee of €25.5 million.
He joined his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd and it has to be noted that Nani he spent eight seasons at the club. In 2014 he returned to Sporting (loan) and at the end of the 2014/2015 Primeira Liga campaign he moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
In 2016 he signed a three-year deal with Valencia for an undisclosed fee. Speaking of his international career, Nani did remarkably well to win the 2016 European Championship trophy with Portugal and it has to be noted that he started against France in the title game. The Portuguese winger won the 2007/2008 Champions League trophy with Manchester United.
Highlighted Team (Vorskla Poltava):
Founded in 1955, Vorskla Poltava are Ukranian team who compete in the Ukrainian Premier League. The Zeleno-Bili (Green-Whites) are not considered one of the best Ukrainian sides and they have always been in Dinamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk’s shadow. Vorskla Poltava have yet to win the national championship, but it has to be noted that they finished third on two occasions (1996/1997, 2017/2018).
Speaking of the Ukrainian Cup, Vorskla Poltava won the competition in 2009, with the team beating star-studded Shakhtar Donetsk in the title game. Vasyl Sachko scored the winner in the 50th minute of the match. Vorskla play their home games at Butovsky Vorskla Stadium, the venue which was opened back in May, 1951.
The capacity of the stadium located in Poltava is 24,795. Vorskla’s largest group of fans is Crew of Golden Eagle. The Ukranian side wear white shirts and white shorts when playing at home, while their away colours are green and white.
Tottenham
Liverpool
Bayern Munich
Hoffenheim
Real Madrid
Levante
Sampdoria
Juventus
Leipzig
Bayer Leverkusen
Atalanta
Lazio
